Label
Resolution - Vince Davis
Council Members Hobbs, McPherson, Williams
Title
Recognizing the contributions of Vince M. Davis.
Summary
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
WHEREAS, Vincent M. Davis, born in Newark, New Jersey, is the son of Harold Davis, Sr. and Barbara Davis; he is a State Farm Insurance and Financial Agent and owner operator of a real estate business; and
WHEREAS, Vincent grew up in an upscale black neighborhood in Springfield, New Jersey; though welcomed, his family still felt the reality of segregation; Harold wanted his son to have “a better understanding of how white people think”; Harold told him, “It’s a white man’s world and If you are going to make any money, understand them”; and
WHEREAS, it was then, that Vincent’s father enrolled him in Saint James School, a private school in Springfield, New Jersey; Vincent he attended from kindergarten through the eighth grade, he was the first African American to attend the school; and
WHEREAS, after high school, Vincent continued his education at Rutgers University, and within three years he graduated with a bachelor degree and cumulative grade point average of 3.45, all while working 40 hours a week to finance his education; and
WHEREAS, Vincent, a Charter Line member of Tau Zeta Chapter, was one of “The Seven Mysterious Men, aka Kool and the Gang,” who were initiated into the first black fraternal organization chartered at Rutgers University, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, shortly after arriving to Toledo, Vincent was voted into the position of Basileus (President) of Xi Tau Chapter of Omega Psi Phi; the chapter’s mission is to uplift the community by aiming for Christian Manhood and a goal of scholarly attainment; he is a cofounder for: the community health fair, 30 years running, where testing for prostate cancer, heart disease and illnesses that affect our community is done; and the scholarship golf outing for college bound youth, raising funds for 37 years; and
WHEREAS, early in the Davis’ marriage, Vincent and Pathy, invested and rehabilitated homes in the Old West End and have continued doing so for over five decades; well over 30 homes have been saved at the hands of the Davis’, most prominently including the DeVilbiss Mansion and former homestead of Nelson Grace; and
WHEREAS, Vincent, with continued support from his wife Pathy, opened Vince Davis Insurance Agency, Inc. in 1987; Vincent strategically placed his business within the central city, “to serve the people that needed insurance and financial literacy the most”, with previous offices on Madison Avenue, Secor Road, and Sherman Street where it resided for 10 years, until his move to 344 Secor Road; and
WHEREAS, in 2003, Vincent completed his Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) and is a well-respected business man, brother and friend in Toledo;
WHEREAS, Vincent uses his time and effort to help others by sharing his Christian ways through: being a Lay Speaker at Braden United Methodist Church; a Board Chair of Moms House (formerly, The Toledo Community Service Center); Vice Chairman of EOPA (Path Ways); serving The United Way Young Leaders; co-founder and President of The NWO Black Chamber of Commerce; member of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce; former member of the Board of Directors at The Boys and Girls Club; worked with ProMedica, SASSI and Rescue Crisis; the former Boule of Sigma Pi Phi; Alpha Phi Boule; Master Mason; instructor, coach and financial contributor at First Tee; and PGA Junior League Parent Coach.
NOW, THEREFORE, Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. that we recognize Vincent M. Davis for laying a path of enrichment in the African American Community and Toledo as a whole.
Adopted _________________, as an emergency measure: yeas _____, nays _____.
Attest: ________________________ __________________________________
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: _____________________ __________________________________
Mayor
I hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of an Ordinance passed by Council ________________________.
Attest: ________________________
Clerk of Council